<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
          THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
          FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS OF GABLES  RESIDENTIAL TRUST FOR THE NINE MONTHS
          ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
          TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000913782
<NAME>                                         Gables Residential Trust
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         35,683
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  0
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               0
<PP&E>                                         1,613,114
<DEPRECIATION>                                 196,598
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,492,420
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          0
<BONDS>                                        798,641
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          4,500
<PREFERRED>                                    115,000
<COMMON>                                       271
<OTHER-SE>                                     364,176
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,492,420
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               181,416
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  102,983
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             34,447
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                48,445
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            41,117
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   41,117
<EPS-BASIC>                                  1.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.72